The 4 Hour Work Week Book Review by Timothy Ferris

I sat at my gym on the outside upper deck over looking The San Diego Skyline, after finishing the audio version of Timothy Ferris’ “The 4 Hour Work Week”, and I had to give pause for a few minutes and start to do an assessment of my own life, goals and direction I am headed. I’m not happy that I am not further along in my goals, but I am happy that I have a good start on my four hour work week,  I just wish I was further along in the trail.

After going to his website and signing in and watching his videos of him in real life doing the things he talks about, or walking the talk, this guy is the real deal and is putting it all out there for all of us to grab. After reading this mans book, I want to be doing the things I want to do, like he does. That simple. I know several other bloggers I watch and read who are doing the same type of thing, and I long for the life of the New Rich. I’m already living this way but on a smaller scale. I am looking for this book to help me move along at a quicker pace.

I am happy at 45 I have already got a start on this path with several things in place making me the money to survive in this world and bad economy. I am Lucky, that I got rolling when I did, because I am not sure where I would be right now had I not started my online entrepreneurship when I did. The economy pretty much wiped out my day job as an I.T. Consultant and Network Engineer. My Clients couldn’t pay me and my income from that pretty much went from 40-50k to 20k or there about, but I haven’t really looked at the damage yet, and I am not sure I really want to.

What I am seeing now, is an upswing in my income from online enterprises and have been able to maintain my previous lifestyle so far with just the income from the things I am doing online. This is a good thing because I am only doing a “few” things so far. I can only imagine when I have several more in place, on autopilot and am doing nothing but walking with my daughter to the park everyday planning my escape to China, for my hike up Wu dang Mountain. The birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu and my personal quest for self indulgent fulfillment.

The Good

“The 4-Hour Workweek“ or 4hww is a GREAT read and an excellent audio. I listen to it in the car, at the gym and at home sometimes but I usually just listen to it in the car and at the gym. I liked the audio because the tones and inflections of the spoken word, make it that much more memorable, and hilarious as all hell. I mean I would listen to it at the gym and when I would start laughing people would turn around and stare at me, it was really funny at times.

4hww starts with Tim’s story, of living the 9 to 5 hell many of us have and still do, fortunately, I do not anymore. The book is broken into chapters but the chapters are contained in steps 1-4. His chronology of how things happened and why we need his book. Yes if You want freedom from the drudgery of 9 to 5, you NEED this book, it’s mandatory reading.

Step 1: D is for Definition, it defines some terms, theoretical situations which I know some people will have a hard time grasping. There’s always someone who has a hard time grasping because they can’t wrap their heads around certain actions and realities. But if you have an open mind and can see things in action you will have no problem with his definitions and realities. This book is for real.

Step 2: E is for Elimination, which talks about eliminating things from our life that suck the life and time out of us. To automate and eliminate. Email for one, has been the bane of my existence as I have over 20, yes I said over 20 accounts I check daily, or used to check daily, I don’t anymore. Phone calls that meander along with not much to accomplish but waste time and breath. The hem and haw’ers, that want your help and suck the life and time from you like the vampires they are and how to deal and get rid of them.

Step 3: A is for Automation, which talks about outsourcing things that we should never do again, unless we really want to. Income on Autopilot, finding what he calls the muse, a “Thing” that we flirt with and it brings us income. Our “Muse” our passionate little friend who gives us that which we long for, how to test it, and put it on autopilot.

Step 4: L is for Liberation, liberation from the previous life of the office automaton, disappearing from that life, mini-retirements and adding life after subtracting work. Most of us will definitely freak out after that happens, because of our “conditioning”, and he definitely walks us through how to deal with life after there is no work involved. One thing that he talks about is service to others. Helping others in need and making our life more meaningful. If any of you have ever helped out at a soup line or given food out to the homeless at Christmas or Thanksgiving, then you know how good it feels. Service to others is important, but not necessary, but I personally can guarantee you it will help to keep you sane, after adding life after subtracting work.

The last chapters which are not labeled as chapters are appendages that have all the needed referenced materials, companies, phone numbers, websites  and all the needed forms or anything else he talked about and he answers ALL THE QUESTIONS. His website also has a forum and additional chapters, which are available to people who won the book or audio, because there’s a secret password on a certain page, to get you into the forum and additional chapters.

If you haven’t read this book yet you are in Luck. There is a newly revised book with additional materials and you can still get it for less than $20 American. The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated is a must have and should be considered a Tome for the New Rich. While reading his blog there was a video, well several really, but one was made for the history channel and if you want to see this man in action, walking his talk you should definitely see this video.

The Bad

The only bad I can say is I now have to go buy the new edition as it has case studies from other New Rich and How they Did It. In his first printings, Timothy had a small few to choose from as examples aside from himself. Now that his book has been out for a while there’s been a lot of people step forward to share their story about how they did it. Of course buying his book all over again is something I would rather not do but I am going to do it knowing how good the first printing was. That is the ONLY bad thing I can think of about this book.

I can’t say enough about this book other than I am already reading and listening to it all over again, and need to get the new edition. I’ve started on my quest for another new, highly profitable “Muse” as he calls them, and I have set in motion the process of getting my passport. I’m heading to Wu dang Mountain in China, the birthplace of Chinese Martial Arts to fulfill a life’s Dream. I know this book has already changed my life and there’s a lot to learn, so reading is several times will have to happen for most of us.

I hope that this review has been helpful for many and that you find fulfillment in your journeys. If you intend on buying it please use my affiliate link here to The Four Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris.

UPDATE: 7/3/10 I recently downloaded the New Expanded and Updated version of 4hww, and liked the new case studies chapters and such, the thing I didn’t like was the way it was read. The narrator, Ray Porter, didn’t have the pizzaz he did in the first reading. I really liked teh first reading and it made me laugh out loud many times.  While the second reading is still good, it just didn’t have the punch the first reading did. Don’t, NOT  get it because of this, it’s still good, this is just a personal observation or preference of mine.

Enjoy,

Sincerely,

Larry Clark

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Killing me with Kindness – For a Better World

One of the blogs I follow is http://www.thrillingheroics.com, because I like what this guy is doing. Sure he’s traveling the world and living the good life of an entrepreneur, but he’s also stopping at orphanages around Bangkok and Thailand and helping them. There’s one post I was just reading and watched the video here, “My Secret Recipe for 100% Guaranteed Happiness”. I couldn’t stop balling my eyes out and wanting to hold my daughter and never let her go. The feelings that well up inside me make me want to get this whole thing right, that much more. This whole Entrepreneur thing and living a better life to help others live a better life too. Damn this tears my heart out.

I know I can still help others live a better life now, but I want to make more of a difference than I can at the moment. I would love to be able to donate lot’s of money to specific organizations and charities to help little children like those. The smiles on faces and lights in the eyes are what make me live. My life changed when my daughter was born, for the better, no, for the best, it’s ever been. I see things in a whole different light, both scary and happy. Scary because I never want her to go through the shit I went through, and happy because I know she will have the best I can give her. Always.

I’ve lived in the streets, turned my life around and recovered from drug addiction, and when I was unemployable I put myself through tech school to make a better life for myself. I am not proud of where I have come from but it has made me what I am today. That is a matter of controversy to some but I say I am on the road to being the best person I can be. I am an up standing father to the most precious little girl and boy friend to a beautiful woman who stands by my side. What more could I ask for?

A better earth.

I’m for a better earth.

A place where people don’t kill themselves over religion, where people don’t have children needlessly and then abuse or abandon them, where things are better than they are now.

It all starts with one person, it starts with me, now.

What are YOU going to do for this world? ANSWER ME THAT!

I fear for my daughters world. Monsanto, the huge GMO conglomerate of a cluster fuck company. Makers of Agent Orange, Roundup Weedkiller and other deadly chemicals. The people who fund mass corruption. The patent holders of a life organism, as well as other corrupt people, places and ideals. If we don’t change things NOW, we’re going to be up shit’s creek without a paddle. I’m serious, why do you think people are speaking out about global warming and other changes in climate? It’s not just their imagination. It’s real. I can tell you my parents who live in D.C. where is used to snow more have not experienced snow fall like they used to 25 years ago, it’s much less due to global warming.

Have you noticed there’s not many protests except those protesting abortion and such? The passionately angry? The people who are not going to stand for any more of whatever they believe in? It sickens me when people complain about where the world is heading and then tell me they didn’t vote, or didn’t do something that could have changed the outcome results of a poll or decision. Go fuck Yourself, if you bitch and complain about something but didn’t do something that could have changed things, IT’S YOUR FAULT ALONE. Fucking Tard.

Passionately Angry, yeah that’s me. It bothers me to see protests for things that people don’t really understand. It bothers me to see no one protesting things they do understand and do nothing about. If you are sick and tired of the way things are, then do something about it. Stand for something or fall for anything. Go to Jail for it. Be a hero. Do something for the good of humanity.

I’ve been reading and listening to Timothy Ferris’ The 4-Hour Workweek book and audio, and am impressed beyond belief at how simple he makes it sound. I really like the audio book best and the book as a reference companion. I usually take the audio with me to the gym and on the road when I am driving. It’s funny when I’m at the gym, and I start busting out laughing and all heads turn and I remember where I am. Oh yeah, I’m at the gym. It’s that funny.

I’m implementing a lot of what Ferris talks about in his book. From getting a VA(Virtual Assistant) to answering calls only at 2 time periods per day, to responding to emails only at 2 time periods per day too. I’m doing this to free up needed time to enjoy whats really important to me. My Daughter.

I don’t have a steady 9-5 job, I don’t want one and nor have I had one in over 5 years of being laid of from my last employer. I will never go back and work for “The Man” ever again. If I can help it, and I’ve done pretty good so far. I prefer to get up at 8am or earlier and have my tea, stretch and get a cheese danish from the local coffee shop. THEN come home, check email and start my days proceedings.

Which brings to mind another thought I had yesterday while standing on the corner trying not to get hit by all the mad people rushing to work, while putting mascara on in the mirror and trying to drive to make the almighty buck. Yeah that life just isn’t for me anymore. The mascara part I mean, no really the driving to work for a 9-5′er and being tied to someone else’ money making venture. I stood there and realized just how lucky, maybe not lucky but how good I have it.

I’m standing there, cheese danish in hand for my 8 weeks pregnant(Again ) girlfriend, who is having the weird cravings thing, watching the line of frantic people driving off to work. Standing there wondering if I’m going to be able to cross the street, because no one is stopping to let me cross even though pedestrians have the right of way.

Yeah, I’ll continue to read the current book I’m reading, which I suggest you do as well, “The 4-Hour Workweek“, and think about what YOU are going to do to better this world, when you have the money to quit your job.

I know what I’m going to do. I’m going to stop in on Cody McKibben on my way to Angkor Wat someday if he’s still there when I get there. I’ll spend some time changing diapers at the orphanages and being grateful for what I have, help out where ever I can, then head off to see the jungle temples in Cambodia.

I give myself two years to make it.

Larry

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